The San Jose Sharks still aren’t at all pleased with how their season ended, losing in historic fashion to the L.A. Kings in the first round of the playoffs. But it sounds unlikely at this point that they’ll make a big splash when free agency comes around this summer.

The reluctance comes with the Sharks transitioning the team to their younger players.

“We will look. We’ll explore everything. But, when you’re turning the team over to a younger core, you’ve got to be careful who you bring in from the outside that ends up superseding them. We’re giving them the opportunity. Here’s your team,” said Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, as per CSN Bay Area and Yahoo! Sports Talk Live.

“It doesn’t mean we won’t add people, whether it be trades or potential free agency going forward, but if you asked me right now, I would say probably not.”

The Sharks had the Kings on the ropes, leading in their opening-round best-of-seven series 3-0, when L.A. pulled off a miraculous comeback to advance to the second round, and now to the Western Conference Final.

Actually, yes, it is. Someone with grit and desire and skill. Not sure they’ll actually make a play for him though. Free agency is where folks get overpaid and DW has historically been very careful to avoid that.

Status Quo, Wilson has never made a big slash in free agency, so apparently they going to do the same thing as always in free agency. No big changes and remaining status quo. Wilson is a bold face liar.

People need to wake up and realize that free agency is never the best way to obtain new players because the free agency market is a bidding war where the players always wind up getting overpaid. DW is smart (unlike many commenters here) and will make moves via trades.

This team needs a major overhaul. Wilson needs to be the first to go….then they need to rebuild through player development since they are stuck with the assclowns they currently have signed to long term contracts. This team will not succeed in the playoffs until 1) Marleau and Thornton are no longer the leaders. 2) They start to show some heart and team unity 3) They sign 4-5 players who WANT to show up when the team needs them most.

Who is it that has long-term contracts? If you knew ANYTHING about the Sharks you’d know that DW avoids long term deals. The only two long term deals (5 years each) are Pavelski and Couture. Are those the “assclowns” you’re talking about? If so, you’re an idiot. Everyone agrees Patty or Jumbo need to go and I’m 100% positive that at least one of them will not be a Shark next season. As for DW needing to go, you realize that every single contract the Sharks have is under market value, right? That’s because DW is a good GM. You realize that we have no contracts longer than 3 years for guys over 30, right? That’s because DW is a good GM. You realize that we now have a plethora of young guys now taking on leadership roles, right? That’s because DW is a good GM. Wake the ef up people.

The collective hockey IQ in the above comments is so mind bogglingly small. Once again, free agency is NOT the only way to make moves. Moreover, it ALMOST ALWAYS results in players being overpaid. DW will make trades. Everyone here who has suggested that “not making a splash in free agency” equates to “not making any off-season moves” should hereby be banned from making ANY suggestions about how to GM a team.